7 Chinese warships pass in waters near Okinawa island

[Minjitta]

21:41 16 October

7 Chinese warships pass in waters near Okinawa island
TOKYO, Oct. 16, Kyodo

Seven Chinese navy warships passed the contiguous zone, a band of water just outside Japan's territorial waters, around an Okinawa island on Tuesday amid a dispute over the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which are claimed by China, the Japanese Defense Ministry said.

The ships including destroyers and frigates were spotted sailing from the Pacific Ocean to the East China Sea at around 7 a.m. about 49 kilometers south-southeast of Yonaguni Island in Okinawa Prefecture, which is 110 km east of Taiwan.

China's National Defense Ministry, in a statement, defended the ships' passage, saying they conducted drills that were valid and legal.

The ministry urged Japan to stop escalating the situation, saying Japan has been violating China's sovereignty over the islands by sending its military aircraft in waters nearby. The islands are known as Diaoyu in China.

Later in the day, the seven vessels confirmed by Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C reconnaissance aircraft headed northwest in the waters around 80 km southwest of Uotsuri Island, the largest of the Senkakus, and they did not sail in the contiguous zone near the uninhabited islands, according to the ministry.

According to ministry officials, the Chinese side informed Japan through diplomatic channels in the morning that the vessels were sailing in the sea area to avoid a typhoon, which is approaching Minami-Daito Island in Okinawa Prefecture, with no intention to approach the island.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda told reporters the government will "stay vigilant and monitor the situation closely."

Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto said at a press conference earlier in the day, "China has been expanding its maritime activities since 2008, but we're not sure about the purpose" of Chinese naval activities near Okinawa.

He added that no Chinese helicopters belonging to the fleet have been found trespassing in Japan's territorial waters.

It is the first time Chinese navy vessels have been found navigating in the 22-km-wide contiguous zone between Yonaguni and Iriomote islands in Okinawa Prefecture, the ministry said.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura, the government's top spokesman, said at a news conference that Japan is urging China to act from a broad perspective.

With fears growing over China's rapid expansion of its naval capacity in resource-rich Asian seas, Fujimura said, "As up to now, we'll continue to carry out surveillance (in surrounding waters)."

Sailing in the contiguous zone that connects to a 12-nautical-mile (22-km) territorial sea area poses no problem under international law. In the zone, Japan can apply its laws for customs procedures and immigration control.

Sources familiar with Japan-China relations said the Chinese navy vessels do not intend to provoke Japan's Self-Defense Forces or enter the contiguous zone near the Senkakus.

The warships are believed to have sailed through waters between Okinawa's main island and Miyako Island on Oct. 4, the ministry added.

==Kyodo

7 Chinese warships pass in waters near Okinawa island | Kyodo News

Seem like Japan hold their grown on Senkaku island

 

[ahfatzia]

Much ado about nothing, the contiguous zone here or any waterway with a land gap is an international through way for maritime vessels. Chinese merchant and military vessels have been using this gap as long as anyone can remember and no one said anything until now.

And what this sentence: "Seem like Japan hold their grown on Senkaku island" means or has anything to do with the topic?

 

[SajeevJino]

The Japanese Leaders See this Secene in the Military Computers...

and Saying that.... Movie ..Movie Movie..


Lol ..That's not a Movie..It's Trespassing..

 

[shuttler]

The Japanese Leaders See this Secene in the Military Computers...

and Saying that.... Movie ..Movie Movie..


Lol ..That's not a Movie..It's Trespassing..

what do the below highlighted words say? are you blind, igorant or prepared to do some intensive cheerleading?

the seven vessels confirmed by Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C reconnaissance aircraft headed northwest in the waters around 80 km southwest of Uotsuri Island, the largest of the Diaoyu Islands (Senkakus), and they did not sail in the contiguous zone near the uninhabited islands, according to the ministry.

 

[Zero_wing]

And your just proving all of us Anti chinese right its still your lose soon the world will encircle china

 

[ChinaToday]

And your just proving all of us Anti chinese right its still your lose soon the world will encircle china

oh but still after invading the scs Philippine leader pins hope on new leadership to improve ties with China after sea standoffcountry


http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news...+standoff+pins+hoped/7401395/st:rofl:ory.html

dont you just love the pinoy you can humilate them as much as you like and they still want to be your friends

 

[ahfatzia]

Japan closely monitoring China ships' actions near disputed isles


TOKYO -- Japan and China are trading a new round of criticism after Japanese military aircraft spotted seven Chinese warships in waters off a southern island not far from a chain of isles at the center of a heated territory dispute. China said the ships were on a routine training mission.

The Chinese ships were sighted Tuesday about 49 kilometers (30 miles) from the island of Yonaguni, in Japan's Okinawa prefecture, according to Japan's Defense Ministry.

The ships were believed to be returning to China after training in the Pacific. Japan's Defense Ministry on Wednesday said the ships were not headed for the disputed islands, but said it was the first time the Chinese navy has been spotted using the narrow sea passage near Yonaguni.

Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto said Japan is monitoring the ships' movement. Japan considers the area part of its contiguous waters, but it is not illegal for foreign vessels to transit them.

It is not unusual for the Chinese navy to transit waters around Okinawa en route to the Pacific, but they usually go through wider straits. The ships included frigates, a guided missile destroyer, a supply ship and two submarine rescue vessels.

Defense Ministry officials said the ships might have been trying to avoid an approaching typhoon.

China's Defense Ministry said the ships were on a scheduled cruising exercise and were acting in a manner that was “appropriate and legal.”

Underscoring China's sharper stance, it also protested the scrambling of a Japanese military plane in the direction of the disputed islands, calling that a “gross violation” of Chinese sovereign rights.

“The Chinese military is closely following the actions of the Japanese side and demands Japan halt all actions complicating or escalating the situation,” the ministry said in a short statement on its website.

Japan angered China last month by nationalizing part of the chain of uninhabited East China Sea islands called Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese.

Japan closely monitoring China ships' actions near disputed isles - The China Post


Yep, the Japanese are watching like hawks, but then, they better get used to it because this narrow gap is going to be very busy from now on. I wonder whether the Liaoning CV16 would look majestic in this channel.